By
Dr Jo Carlile
Questions to ask during an initial consultation with a therapist
This article is a great one to read before an initial consultation with a therapist.
Reading time
4
min
Published
November 4, 2026
Updated
November 5, 2026
Intro
Before you begin working with a Pear therapist, you will always be offered the opportunity for a 15 minute consultation with them. A consultation or discovery call is a two-way dialogue, designed to give the therapist a sense of what you are hoping to gain from therapy, and more importantly, for you to work out whether they will be a good fit for you.
That said, it is entirely normal to feel unsure about the purpose of the call and to wonder what questions you should be asking, especially if it is your first foray into therapy. You may wonder how to get the most out of such a brief conversation. You might equally feel anxious that you will be interviewed or assessed.
The purpose of this blog is to help clear up some of the uncertainties around the therapist consultation, to reassure you that there are no expectations on you, and to empower you to come away from any conversation feeling assured of whether a therapist was right for you or not!
Key Takeaways
- A consultation or discovery call is a 15 minute conversation to establish fit.
- It is a chance for you to see if this is someone you could open up to over time
- The key function of the call is finding out whether a therapist is someone you click with.
- You can prepare some questions but certainly don’t have to.
- If you do want to prepare questions it may help to ask how the therapist works, their values, their experience, and to clear up any important practicalities.
- A consultation with a suitable therapist should feel comfortable, flowing and reassuring; if it feels awkward, ask yourself why and whether it's a fit issue.
- Trust your gut. You don’t have to decide there and then, and it is important and perfectly okay to say no if you feel the fit isn’t right!
What is a consultation or discovery call?
A consultation or discovery call is a common practice among all therapists. The most important function of the call is to provide you with a chance to evaluate whether you feel the therapist is a good fit for you. It’s a chance to hear their voice, to get a feeling for their presence and whether you feel comfortable with them, and to hear about their professional experience and who they are.
On the other end, it will be a chance for you to give the therapist some insights into your reasons for coming to therapy and what you hope to take away from it (if this is something you know – it is perfectly normal not to!) While the consultation isn’t about a therapist assessing you, they will also use what you tell them to evaluate whether they think they are suited to working with you based on their expertise and approach.
As important as understanding what a consultation is, so is appreciating what it is not. It is not an examination of you as an individual or prospective client. If anything, it is more of a chance for you to interview the therapist – to get a feeling for whether or not they will be the right person for you to open up to about any issues you may be experiencing in your life. Therapy works best when you feel you can be completely honest with your therapist, so finding someone who you intuitively feel you can communicate freely with is an ideal starting place.
It is also worth bearing in mind that a consultation call is not a therapy session. A therapist will hope to get a sense of your problems, but don’t go in worrying that you have to tell your life story or go into great depth on your most troubling concerns. In such limited time, much of the conversation will be practical. A therapist should outline to you their working patterns, availability, fees and any other important logistics. If there are any other practical details you feel you need to understand, the consultation call is a perfect opportunity to ask them.
The key thing to remember is that, above all else, the consultation is about understanding if a therapist is right for you before committing your time and money.
How to prepare for the consultation
The consultation call is meant to be an informal discussion to confirm whether a therapist is right for you. Therefore, there are no expectations on you at all! The therapist will lead the call, so you don’t need to worry about having all the answers and questions figured out. Any questions you do have won't be judged, even if you feel embarrassed to ask them. If you feel nervous, sharing this with the therapist will help them to support you.
That said, if you worry your mind might go blank or you won’t know what to say, then you may find it useful to jot down some questions to bring to the call. The questions we’ve outlined below cover a lot of ground, but they aren’t exhaustive; if you have any questions that are unique to you or there’s anything you’re still wondering about, making a note of these in advance is a good way to make sure you get the answers you’re looking for.
In any case, if anything comes to you which you didn’t get to in the call, your therapist will almost always be happy to answer via an email or message as soon as they are able to.
Some questions you can ask (and what they can tell you)
Below we will outline some useful questions you can take into a consultation or discovery call with your prospective therapist. Before we do, know that there are no ‘wrong’ questions to ask in your call.
Every person comes to therapy with unique circumstances and specific needs, and the consultation is a chance to ask any questions that might be occupying you. It is also perfectly reasonable to share any uncertainty you may still have while you’re on the call with the therapist. They may be able to help you put your finger on what it is you want or need to know!
About how they work
- What is your approach or style of therapy?
Therapists work in different ways, so asking about the nature of their approach lets you consider if it seems right for you. There is a lot of jargon out there, so don’t be afraid to ask them to explain their methods in plain English if you don’t understand anything!
- What will a session actually look like?
If you are unsure of what their approach means in practice, this question can help you picture yourself working with the therapist and reduce uncertainty or nerves going in.
About their experience
- Have you worked with people like me or with similar issues before?
More than a lengthy CV, a therapist's direct experience of working with an individual with similar issues to those you are facing should be a reassuring sign they will be equipped to work with you.
- What are your qualifications? Where did you train? Are you accredited or registered with your relevant professional body?
Though less important than direct experience, knowing how and where the therapist trained and their level of accreditation may offer a better understanding of their experience, expertise and pricing. However, it’s important to know that these don’t offer a guarantee of a better fit or fruitful therapeutic relationship.
About fit and therapeutic relationship
- Would you tell me a bit about yourself and your values?
Each therapist’s mileage on sharing information about themselves will vary... Nevertheless, it is often helpful to ask a therapist about their values and to see if they resonate with your own. On the other hand, it may also be valuable to speak to someone who brings a different perspective and therapists are trained to work with people from all kinds of backgrounds. Ultimately, the most important thing is the feeling that you click with them.
- How will I know if the therapy is working? What if it doesn’t work?
This is a common thing to ask your therapist. Often thinking about goals together is a good place to start. These can be touched on in the discovery call and then fleshed out in more detail if you choose to work together.
About the practicalities
- What are your fees?
It may seem obvious, but it's vital to know if a therapist's rates are affordable for you in a sustainable way. It’s also perfectly okay to ask the therapist how they set their rates and why - you may want to check out our blog on the cost of therapy before you have this conversation.
- What are your cancellation fees?
Life happens and therefore so do cancellations - different therapists have different ways of handling cancellations or postponements. If the therapist doesn’t volunteer this information, it's worth finding out to avoid any surprises.
- How frequent will sessions be?
Find out how often the therapist usually sees clients and establish with them what you think you may need in terms of frequency of sessions.
- How long is each session?
Most commonly, therapy sessions last around 50 minutes, but this is not a hard and fast rule.
- Do you offer online or in-person sessions? Can you offer a mix of both?
Many therapists work online and in-person these days, but it's worth considering your own preference and how it matches with the therapist’s.
- How long would I have to wait before we could get started?
A therapist will likely tell you if they have a waiting list, but it is worth finding out how long it might take to receive your first session, especially if you have a more urgent need to see someone.
How to know if a therapist is right for you
The truth is that choosing a therapist is a deeply personal and entirely subjective decision. You may come in with a sense of the kind of person you would like to work with, or you may have no sense at all.
At Pear, our belief is that the best sign of a good fit is an easy, comfortable and reassuring consultation or discovery call. In life, there are people we find we connect with, and others who we just don’t quite find ourselves on the same wavelength as.
In many ways, finding a therapist that suits you is no different to finding someone you are comfortable with in other walks of life. Your conversation in the consultation should feel like a conversation with a stranger that goes well in any other scenario, whether that’s at a party, at work, in a coffee shop or anywhere else.
If you feel like they are understanding your language and speaking back to you in terms you understand, that is a great sign that a therapist is a good fit.
On the flipside, if you feel like a therapist doesn’t really hear you, you don’t feel like the conversation flows naturally, or if you feel like they’ve made assumptions about you, that’s a fairly reliable sign that this therapist isn’t the one for you.
Do I have to decide there and then? Is it okay to say no?
Meeting someone, especially someone who may seem like an expert or authority, can sometimes lead us to feel a sense of obligation. It’s important to remain mindful that, at the end of the consultation, the ball is entirely in your court when deciding whether to proceed with a therapist. You certainly don’t have to decide during or immediately following the call whether you want to work with a therapist or not. In fact, taking time to reflect on the conversation and how you felt about the therapist is something we highly recommend.
If you do have doubts, if there’s someone you trust and feel able to discuss the call with, this may prove helpful. Ultimately, though, choosing a therapist is and should be a personal decision you make for yourself. It’s vital to trust your intuition. If there is something that tells you that this isn’t the right therapist for you, any kind of nagging doubt, it is better to take the time to find someone that fits you better than to spend your time and money and finding out they weren’t the right therapist for you.
Your no pressure next step
The most important question isn’t on a list; it’s one you ask yourself: “Could I open up to this person?” A discovery call is just how you find this out.
If you feel ready to take that next step, our pairing is free and so is the discovery call to decide if the therapist feels like a good fit. You only start paying when you have chosen your therapist and you start full length sessions with them.
Let us find your therapist
Answer a few questions and we'll pair you with someone we think you'll click with. You'll have a free 15-minute call first, so you can see how it feels before committing.
Related insights
Frequently asked questions
We know that we’re doing something quite different to what is currently on offer when you're searching for a therapist so we're expecting lots of questions! If your question isn’t answered here - get in touch with us, we’d love to hear from you.
How does Pear help me find a therapist?
Pear is here to take one difficult decision off your shoulders.
Complete our five-minute pairing conversation, designed by Dr Jo. You’ll then be recommended to up to three therapists we believe could be a great fit for you.
From there, you'll have a free 15-minute discovery call so you can decide whether they feel like someone you could open up to before committing to therapy.
Does Pear offer online or face-to-face therapy?
We are currently only offering online therapy as this enables us to pair you with the right therapist without having to take geography into consideration.
As we still have a fairly small community of fantastic therapists we were finding that we were having to look outside our community to find clients face-to-face therapists which, in turn, meant we could not guarantee the quality of the therapists.
Please reach out to us if you would like to talk more about online therapy and how it works.
How is Pear free for me to use?
Pear never charges you to be paired with a therapist or to have a 15-minute discovery call.
If you decide to continue afterwards, Pear receives the cost of your first therapy session. After that, you'll pay your therapist directly for any ongoing sessions.
We do it this way because we believe you should have the chance to meet a therapist before deciding whether they're right for you.
How does Pear choose my therapist?
Every recommendation starts with understanding you.
The questions you'll answer have been shaped by the clinical expertise of our co-founder, Dr Jo. Your answers help us understand what's been going on, what you're looking for, and what's likely to be important to help you and your therapist click.
Is the information I share confidential?
Yes, absolutely. Only our founders, Dr Jo and Tallie, have access to the information you share with us during the pairing process. If you choose to work with one of your recommended therapists, any information shared with them will be treated confidentially in line with their professional code of ethics.
Who are the therapists in the Pear community?
Every therapist in the Pear community is professionally qualified, insured and a member of the relevant professional body for the therapy they practise.
Before joining Pear, they're vetted through our review process by Dr Jo. We also believe therapists do their best work when they're supported themselves, which is why looking after our therapist community is just as important to us as supporting the people who come to Pear.
What happens during the free discovery call?
Your free 15-minute discovery call is a chance to meet your recommended therapist before booking a full session. You can talk a little about what you're looking for, ask any questions you have and get a sense of whether they feel like someone you could open up to. There's no obligation to book afterwards.
What is the Pear therapist community?
Pear is a UK-based community for therapists in private practice. It’s a place to meet other therapists, learn from each other, continue developing clinically and get practical help with running your practice.
Members can join regular clinical seminars, therapy surgeries, peer groups, Monday lunches, marketing sessions and other community events.
How much does it cost?
Pear membership is £20 a month by direct debit. If you decide to leave, we ask for a month’s notice.
How much CPD is included?
There are at least four hours of CPD available each month through our clinical seminars, therapy surgeries, peer supervision and clinical skills groups.
Many of our learning sessions are recorded, so you can catch up whenever suits you.
Why should I use Pear instead of finding a therapist myself?
You don't have to — but you also don't have to do it alone.
Finding a therapist often means comparing dozens of profiles and trying to work out who's right based on a photo, a short biography, and a list of qualifications. For many people, that's overwhelming. A lot of people who come to us have tried therapy before, but the therapist they chose just wasn’t right for them.
Pear helps narrow that search, so instead of wondering where to begin, you can spend your energy on working through the stuff you’re ready to put down.
Can Pear help if I don’t know what kind of therapy I need?
Absolutely.
Most people don't come to us knowing what type of therapy they need— and we don't expect them to.
You don't need to know the terminology or understand the different approaches before asking for help. We'll take what you share with us and use it to recommend therapists that make sense for you.
Can I complete the pairing process for someone else?
Ideally, the person looking for therapy should complete the pairing form themselves, as their answers help us understand what they need from a therapist. We know that taking the first step can sometimes feel difficult, though, so someone else can help with the process with their permission.
What if none of the recommended therapists feels right?
This is totally fine. Whilst the feedback on the quality of our pairings has been extremely positive so far, we understand that we might not always get it spot on.
Our ethos is all about respecting individuality and not putting people in boxes. If you are confused about a pairing, you can reply to the email and we can explain and find some other options if that feels appropriate.
Do I have to book with a therapist Pear recommends?
There is absolutely no pressure to book. Take this journey at your own pace. Your paired therapists will make contact with you as we know making the first move can feel daunting but there is no obligation to take things further. All of our therapists offer free 15-minute discovery calls, so why not have a chat and see how you feel.
Does Pear offer couples therapy?
Yes. Pear can help you find therapists who specialise in couples therapy, couples counselling and relationship counselling. Only one of you needs to complete our five-minute pairing form — just let us know you’re looking for couples therapy and tell us a little about what you’d like support with. We’ll then recommend up to three therapists for you to explore together.
How much do therapy sessions cost?
Therapy sessions with Pear therapists typically cost between £50 and £160 per session. You’ll tell us your budget when you complete the pairing form, and we’ll only recommend therapists within it.
You won’t pay anything until you’ve chosen a therapist and booked your first full therapy session.
Who can join Pear?
You need to be a qualified therapist, a member of a relevant professional body, insured to practise in the UK and receiving appropriate ongoing supervision.
We also ask therapists to offer clients referred through Pear a free 15-minute discovery call.
Do I get client referrals?
Pear is growing organically, and we hope to be able to offer more client referrals as we grow.
For now, we're not sending Pear client referrals to new members. If a client isn't the right fit for one of our founding therapists, other members will be first in line.
Therapists within the community also share referrals with each other when they know someone who could be a better fit.
Is the community online?
Yes, our community activities take place online, so you can join from wherever you are.
We're also hoping to introduce in-person events in 2027, giving everyone more.